GAFNM is committed to helping develop excellence in the emerging generations of new teachers in New Mexico. The Golden Apple Scholars Program identifies students in New Mexico colleges of education and matches them in meaningful teaching opportunities guided by Golden Apple Fellows as mentors. These experiences are an invaluable supplement to the Scholars’ academic experience in college, and the mentorship relationships developed can make a huge difference in a new teacher’s early career.

Since 2013, Golden Apple has offered a Scholars Summer Institute in collaboration with the National Dance Institute [NDI] at its Highland Theatre. Each summer, Golden Apple Scholars offer academic sessions to NDI students and at the same sharpen their teaching practice by working with Golden Apple Award Winning Teachers.

For the past two years, in partnership with New Mexico’s Public Education Department, Golden Apple Scholars in Las Cruces have observed master teachers to create learn more about incorporating literacy strategies in the classroom and create their own Literacy Tool Kits. In 2015, Scholars created a Literacy Toolkit that provides an overview of classroom strategies that advance Common Core Standards as well as a Literacy Resource Guide for new teachers. Scholars presented their findings at a conference in Las Cruces in April 2015.

See what Las Cruces Golden Apple Scholars in 2014 learned about advancing literacy through their teacher observation:

In 2013 GAFNM operated Scholars Summer Institutes in partnership with National Dance Institute and Lutheran Family Services in Albuquerque. GAFNM constantly seeks students in New Mexico colleges of education to participate, as well as school and tutoring settings where Scholars can gain experience under the mentorship of our Golden Apple Fellows.

If you are a college student of education that wishes to become a Scholar, or if you represent a school or program that would like to host a Scholars Institute, please contact GAFNM at (505) 268-5337 or email brian@goldenapplenm.org.

Golden Apple Scholars working with NDI Dancers

Engage & Learn from the best!

GAFNM and the Academy of Fellows strives to provide a setting where teachers can exchange ideas, strategies, and encouragement in the pursuit of improving outcomes for their students.